Comments on: Backlight – What, Why, How and Where?

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:13:50 +0000

Can anyone help me with this difficulty? I need to light the person behind the “mirror” in Snow White. The “mirror” will be made of gauze or similar material ie. almost a one way effect. Would downlighting be the answer? This will give facial shadows I suspect. Advice would be appreciated from more experienced persons!

By: DuncanM

DuncanM — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:36:45 +0000

@Seamus – sorry – I re-read your question, and I’m talking nonsense! What I should have said was to agree with Rob about how to project a shadow onto an opaque screen (like a sheet). Sometimes the light source can still be visible to the audience, and sometimes it can work well to hide it behind the actor, if it gives you the angle you’re after.

I was thinking about lighting scrims, which are opaque when lit from in front (and hopefully dark behind), but translucent when unlit from the front and the actor behind the scrim is lit. What I was trying to say is that a cyc light is good for front lighting the actor, if they’re close up behind the scrim… And a top light can be nice for outlining the actor without revealing much of their face, giving a “shadow-like” effect…

Sorry for my confusion…

cheers

By: DuncanM

DuncanM — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:16:18 +0000

Hi. My theatre roof is very low (about 12 feet to the grid over the stage) so conventional back lighting is hard because they end up lighting the front few rows of the audience. Similarly, toplights make one spot lovely and bright (if you stand directly underneath) and have no effect everywhere else. So sometimes I’ve used cyc lights as toplights, because the broad and relatively even beam covers more stage more evenly than anything else I can think of. Anyone got any other ideas for toplights with low roofs?

@ Seamus – try using a cyc light to backlight your sheet – might give an even outline, rather than the “spotty” effect of using a profile…
Cheers
Duncan

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:56:21 +0000

Hi Seamus, a light source close and low is good for making the subject’s shadow appear huge. The best thing to do is experiment with a portable light source to get exactly the “look” you want, and don’t forget the mark for the actor to hit the correct spot every night. Cheers

By: Seamus McNally

Seamus McNally — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:14:24 +0000

Hi
Just googled onto your site. Involved in amateur drama and directing a play at the moment in which I want to have the actor behind a sheet so that his silouette is seen on the sheet before he appears.
Going by your comments I think it would mean a low light from behind as near as possible to the subject?
I must buy your book, it sounds intersting, and down to earth judging by your site.
Regards
Seamus
PS I’ll buy you a pint of Guinness when my son comes in and I get his paypal code

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:23:17 +0000

Hi Richard

I have seen a few LED packages fitted into a Birdie can or something comparable in size. Funny thing is that the biggest things with conventional DMX connections becomes 2 x XLR, usually on flying leads and some kind of PSU. Other systems (like Anolis, by Robe) use RJ45 connectors and separate power supplies to keep the bulk of the the hardware away from the fixture.

Thanks for stopping by.

By: Richard Boyd

Richard Boyd — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:33:42 +0000

Hi Rob

Superb website!!!!

I came across it as we are researching into DMX & LED lighting for the company that I run Real Oasis. We currently use Par36’s but they are in the main too large to fit into smaller planters and have to be situated outside of the planter. Due to the nature of what we do we need cool running lights and finding small enough products to fit into the planters (that can also be DMX controlled) has become a problem. Birdies (RGB) would be ideal (it’s the effect that we want) we don’t need a great deal of light…any suggestions?

Keep up the good work, I’ll be back!

Rich

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:38:28 +0000

@Mike – Hi. If you are just looking to provide a working prop for a small studio, you are best seeking out a second hand “old” theatre or TV fixture that looks the part. The downside to a lot of these is they are relavtively power hungry and HOT in small studio. 300W is pretty much the as high as I could stand in a confined space.

You might be able to get some kind of faux theatre domestic light fittings from a furnishing place that looks better than the real thing. Let us know how you get on.

By: Mike Rodwell

Mike Rodwell — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:41:12 +0000

G’day
My grandaughter has just set herself up an 8X4m dance studio
and I would like to contribute a theatre light to add to the
ambiance. Please could you advise me what I should do ?.
Thanks
mike

By: Saravanan

Saravanan — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:40:55 +0000

All de best:) I’m goin for LD training next week.